With energy bills always at the forefront of the news, there's little focus on students and utility bills. If you've just moved out for the first time, it can be really hard to navigate utility bills - so this article aims to help you understand this a bit more!
This article is brought to you by confused.com energy.
Do students have to deal with energy bills?
If your landlord has bundled energy expenses into your rent payment, you won’t have to deal with energy suppliers and bills. This is common if you're in dorms. But if not, YES, you and your housemates will have to pay for the energy you use – think gas and electricity.
Who's supplying my gas and electricity?
If you're sharing a house, your landlord should clue you in on who's supplying you. But as you automatically inherit the same energy supplier as the previous occupants of the house, you can ask the previous tenants who they were paying. If they're not sure, here's what you can do:
Finding your gas supplier:
Finding your electricity supplier:
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Scope out the Energy Networks Association website to track down your energy network operator, who then can reveal who your supplier is.
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Alternatively, use the Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS) to check your electricity supplier where you can also get your 21-digit Meter Point Administration number, which can be handy for switching suppliers.
Tips for splitting bills in a student house
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Chat it Out: Have a conversation with your housemates to figure out a fair way to split the bills. Everyone needs to be on board with the plan.
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Equal Shares: Consider dividing the bills equally among all housemates, regardless of individual energy usage, for a straightforward approach.
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Usage-based Split: If some roomies are burning through energy more than others, you might need to divvy up the bills based on usage.
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Delegate Duties: Assign one or two housemates to handle bill payments. They'll collect money from everyone, make sure bills are paid on time, and keep everything organised. Also, it’s a good idea to have someone read the meter each month (if you don’t have a smart meter)
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Household Joint Account: Think about setting up a shared bank account just for bill payments. Each housemate can set up a direct debit to chip in their share.
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Bill-splitting Apps: There are apps out there, like Split The Bills that automate the process and provide transparency, although some may entail associated fees.
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Check In Regularly: Keep tabs on how the bill-splitting setup is working out. If things change or someone's using way more energy than before, you might need to tweak things.
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Be Flexible: Maintain flexibility in discussing and adapting the bill-splitting method to accommodate changing circumstances and ensure harmony among housemates.
Can I switch energy providers in my new student home?
Absolutely! You're not stuck with the current supplier. As a billpayer, you have the right to choose your new energy provider. Look into different energy deals using comparison tools like Confused.com. Even if you don't have a recent bill, these tools can help you find the info you need.
Top ten tips on keeping bills cheap
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Be Mindful of Energy Usage: Turn off lights, unplug electronics when not in use, and use energy-efficient appliances to reduce consumption.
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Understand Your Tariff: Know what type of energy tariff you're on (e.g., fixed-rate, variable-rate) and consider switching if there are better deals available.
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Monitor Your Usage: Keep track of your energy usage using smart meters or regular meter readings to avoid unexpectedly high bills.
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Seal Drafts: Keep doors and windows properly sealed to prevent heat loss during colder months, which can help lower heating costs.
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Set Thermostat Wisely: Adjust heating and cooling settings to maintain a comfortable temperature without wasting energy.
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Split Bills Fairly: Agree on a fair method to split energy bills with housemates, whether it's based on equal shares or usage.
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Use Energy-Saving Gadgets: Invest in energy-saving gadgets like smart plugs or energy-efficient light bulbs to reduce energy wastage.
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Switch Providers: Compare energy providers regularly to ensure you're getting the best deal, and don't hesitate to switch if you find a cheaper option.
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Utilise Student Discounts: Check if there are any student discounts or special offers available from energy providers to save money.
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Seek Help if Struggling: If you're having trouble paying energy bills, contact your energy supplier or university support services for assistance and advice.
Energy jargon buster
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Standing Charge: It's like a daily fee you pay just for being connected to the energy supply grid, no matter how much energy you use.
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Dual Fuel: This is a plan that puts both your electricity and gas supply together in one package, often saving you money.
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Economy 7: This energy plan offers you two different rates for energy use – one for daytime, which is usually more expensive, and one for nighttime, which is cheaper.
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Energy Network Operator: These are the companies that handle getting gas or electricity to your energy supplier. Think of them as the middlemen. Examples include National Grid, Scottish and Southern Electricity Network, and SP Energy Networks.
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Energy Price Cap: It's the highest price that energy suppliers can charge per unit of energy, decided by regulators.
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Energy Supplier: This is the company that sends you your energy bill. You've probably heard of some, like OVO, EDF, or British Gas.
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Fixed Rate: With this kind of plan, the price you pay for energy stays the same for the whole time you're on the plan.
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kW (Kilowatt): It's just a unit used to measure how much electricity your stuff uses. It's like 1,000 watts.
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kWh (Kilowatt Hour): This is a way to measure how much energy you're using over time.
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Prepayment Meter: Instead of getting a bill every month or so, with this meter, you pay for your energy as you go, like topping up your phone credit.
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Tariffs: These are basically the different plans that energy companies offer, showing how they charge you for gas or electricity.
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Unit Price: It's how much you're charged for a certain amount of energy, usually in pence per kilowatt-hour (p/kWh).
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Variable Rate: This is when the price you pay for energy can go up or down depending on what's happening in the market. So, your bills might change suddenly if the overall cost of energy goes up.
Click here to find a longer list of energy jargon.
Find out more information on Confused.com
Reach out to our University’s Advice and Counselling Service for any additional advice or support